Manufacturing Project Engineer – Sanford Advanced Manufacturing

Caterpillar Inc.•Sanford, NC

1d•$147,760 - $221,640•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar Inc. is establishing a new advanced manufacturing campus in Sanford, North Carolina, to increase production capacity for compact track loaders and telehandlers. This modern, technology-driven facility will integrate automation, robotics, digital production systems, and logistics capabilities to improve safety, quality, and operational performance. Employees will contribute to building essential products while gaining skills in advanced manufacturing and supporting the growth of Caterpillar’s Cat Compact℠ business. We are seeking two Manufacturing Project Engineers, one specializing in Paint and one in Assembly. These roles offer a unique opportunity to lead the development of a manufacturing operation from its inception. The successful candidates will manage significant projects and integrated manufacturing systems for an entire Paint or Assembly line, introducing new processes, equipment, automation, robotics, connected systems, and digital manufacturing tools into production. The primary objective is to achieve industry-leading safety, quality, and efficiency through lean manufacturing principles, robust quality systems, and practical smart automation solutions. These positions hold end-to-end responsibility for either the entire Paint or Assembly line, encompassing individual equipment and subsystems. The scope of work includes leading efforts from the initial concept and line design through supplier selection, equipment installation, system integration, commissioning, and final launch. While experience in both Paint and Assembly is not required, candidates should possess strong capabilities in manufacturing engineering, process development, project execution, and problem-solving relevant to at least one of these areas.

Requirements

Manufacturing Engineering: Knowledge of manufacturing engineering principles, systems, standards, processes, and operational improvement methodologies.
Experience taking manufacturing processes or equipment from concept through procurement, installation, commissioning, validation, and startup.
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, monitor, and successfully deliver manufacturing projects to scope, schedule, quality, and budget requirements.
Experience leading capital projects, full production-line installations, integrated manufacturing systems, equipment upgrades, or automation initiatives.
Process Management: Ability to evaluate, improve, standardize, and optimize business and manufacturing processes.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, control plans, root cause analysis, process validation, 5S, or operational excellence methods.
Robotics & Computer-Controlled Machinery: Knowledge of robotics technologies, automation solutions, machine controls, connected equipment, and advanced manufacturing equipment.
Collaborating: Ability to work effectively across functions, departments, suppliers, and stakeholders to achieve shared business objectives.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field.
Experience with digital work instructions, machine connectivity, production data, quality systems, or smart manufacturing tools.
Previous experience in assembly production line design and/or industrial paint experience.
Experience supporting an advanced manufacturing facility, new plant startup, facility expansion, ongoing plant engineering support, or major manufacturing transformation.
Demonstrated success implementing robotic systems, automated equipment, machine vision, PLCs, HMIs, connected equipment, torque systems, conveyors, automated material movement, or computer-controlled manufacturing systems in an Industry 4.0 environment.
Experience developing business cases, cost estimates, technical evaluations, and project recommendations for manufacturing investments.
Experience in heavy equipment, industrial machinery, automotive, aerospace, durable goods, coatings, fabrication, assembly, or another complex manufacturing environment.
Relevant experience may include paint system implementation, coatings operations, robotic application systems, pretreatment, e-coat, powder coat, liquid paint, ovens, booths, conveyors, environmental controls, paint delivery systems, quality systems, and process troubleshooting.
Lead end-to-end paint line projects, including system design, equipment selection, installation, commissioning, startup, and production stabilization.
Optimize paint operations across booths, ovens, conveyors, robotics, material delivery, and environmental systems to improve quality, throughput, uptime, and efficiency.
Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to resolve technical issues, enhance process performance, implement root-cause solutions, and ensure safe, compliant, production-ready operations.
Lead end-to-end assembly line design, implementation, commissioning, and production startup, including workflow, workstation layout, tooling, fixtures, and equipment integration.
Develop and optimize assembly processes, material flow, line balancing, automation, robotics, and error-proofing systems to improve quality, throughput, and efficiency.
Partner with cross-functional teams and suppliers to support manufacturability, process validation, launch readiness, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Establish the operating concept, technical requirements, production flow, and performance standards of the paint and assembly line.
Own major project scopes, schedules, budgets, technical specifications, risk assessments, supplier deliverables, implementation plans, and final acceptance criteria.
Work with operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, facilities, safety, information technology, suppliers, and contractors.
Provide technical leadership for the integrated line system, including equipment, tooling, fixtures, process controls, layouts, material flow, interfaces, and production performance.
Identify practical opportunities for automation, robotics, error-proofing, machine connectivity, digital work processes, and data-driven improvement.
Lead suppliers and system integrators through design reviews, interface management, installation, commissioning, validation, performance testing, and final acceptance of line-level systems.
Analyze capacity, cycle times, material flow, labor needs, throughput, bottlenecks, and production readiness.
Develop standard work, process documentation, operating procedures, preventive maintenance input, and knowledge transfer for operations and maintenance teams.
Mentor engineers, technicians, and manufacturing team members to strengthen technical capability and disciplined problem solving.
Lead development and integration of the complete automated paint line as a manufacturing system, with responsibility spanning process design, major capital projects, equipment interfaces, launch, and sustained line performance.
Lead end-to-end paint line projects, including system design, equipment selection, installation, commissioning, startup, and production stabilization.
Optimize paint operations across booths, ovens, conveyors, robotics, material delivery, and environmental systems to improve quality, throughput, uptime, and efficiency.
Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to resolve technical issues, enhance process performance, implement root-cause solutions, and ensure safe, compliant, production-ready operations.
Lead development and integration of the complete assembly line as a manufacturing system, with responsibility for line design, major capital projects, tooling and equipment interfaces, automated or semi-automated systems, material flow, line balancing, error-proofing, testing, launch, and sustained production performance.
Lead end-to-end assembly line design, implementation, commissioning, and production startup, including workflow, workstation layout, tooling, fixtures, and equipment integration.
Develop and optimize assembly processes, material flow, line balancing, automation, robotics, and error-proofing systems to improve quality, throughput, and efficiency.
Partner with cross-functional teams and suppliers to support manufacturability, process validation, launch readiness, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.